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QUEBEC CITY, Jan. 20 /CNW Telbec/ - Ford has won two prestigious CAA
Pyramid Awards(TM) - one for its newly developed blind-spot mirror and the
other for its 100%-recycled seats. This is a historic first, as no automaker
has previously won both awards.
CAA-Quebec, the second-largest automobile club in Canada, was part of the
awards jury and, since road safety and the environment are among its
priorities, fully supports the consensus arrived at by the members. CAA-Quebec
was represented by Raynald Côté, who has been in charge of road testing for
the organization since 1984 and is an expert in road safety and automobile
research.
The Pyramid Award for Safety Innovation of the Year went to the new
blind-spot mirror, which uses a secondary convex mirror to widen the driver's
field of view and improve views of approaching vehicles by limiting the size
of the blind spot. In focus group testing by Ford, 76% of respondents said
that the mirror improved their confidence behind the wheel, and that they had
no difficulty adjusting their driving habits with the mirror installed. In the
opinion of CAA-Quebec and all Canadian clubs, this represents a road safety
gain.
The other award was in the category Environmental Initiative of the Year.
Ford's seats, available on all Escape models, use 100% post-industrial
recycled materials. Their use will save an estimated 600,000 gallons of water,
1.8 million pounds of CO2 and 7 million kilowatts of electricity. Protecting
the environment is an important issue, and this type of initiative represents
one more step in the right direction.
CAA-Quebec, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1904, provides
automotive, travel, residential and financial services, benefits and
privileges to its approximately 950,000 members.
About the CAA Pyramid Awards
Introduced by CAA in 1983, the Pyramid Awards are designed to showcase
automotive excellence in the areas of safety innovation and environmental
achievement. Any company that sells or manufactures vehicles in Canada is
eligible for the CAA Pyramid Awards for either a single initiative or a
collection of initiatives.
About the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA)
The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) is a federation of nine
automobile clubs serving 5.3 million members through 148 offices across
Canada. CAA provides a wide range of member services and works to improve
travelling and motoring conditions at home and around the world, including
national advocacy efforts on both traffic safety and public policy issues that
affect Canadian motorists.